Grant Shapps announces 47 countries removed from red list

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Ministers will today consider removing the final seven countries from the list of high-risk nations. Any traveller returning from Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Haiti or the Dominican Republic is currently required to quarantine in a UK hotel for 10 days at a cost of £2,285 per person. But the sources said it was “almost certain” the curbs would be lifted.

It was reported that next week’s COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, which has delegates from the seven countries, is a factor.

Ministers are also expected to consider a plan to scrap hotel quarantine. It would be replaced by travellers self-isolating at home for 10 days, whether or not they are fully jabbed.

The move might not be enacted until the New Year.

Nearly 200,000 people returning from red list countries have been forced to quarantine in hotels since the restriction was introduced at the start of the year.

Although the list will disappear with the removal of the seven countries, it is likely ministers will keep it in reserve in case new Covid variants emerge or there is a resurgence in the virus.

Anyone returning from a red list country would then have to quarantine at home.

A source said: “There is a strong desire to abolish the red list but a final decision will be taken on Thursday. It has been very much the expectation with the added pressure of COP26.”

The moves come as the threat of Covid from overseas appears to be receding. NHS data shows Britons travelling to red list countries now have less chance of catching the virus than people who stay in the UK.

The proportion of positive tests from quarantined red list travellers dropped to 0.77 percent in the middle of this month – fewer than one in 120 people. The UK positive test proportion was 1.14 percent.

There was a cull of the red list earlier this month, when 47 countries were removed.

Source: Read Full Article